Crab Orchard Review Vol. 12, No. 2, our

Shana Ritter
Rosh Hashanah
Apples and honey
dipped once, twice,
three times. We can make it a rhyme
a dance with our hands
a movement of mouths and lips
to embrace sweetness.
Honey spilled on hair and fingertips
honey lingering thick
on our tongues
sweet and substantial
drained from work.
Honey, salt and bread
when you move to a new home,
honey and apples for a new year,
dip once and twice and three times
we submerge in the sticky sweetness,
lick it down to the core.
Later at dusk
we walk to the stream,
take a smooth stone
rub it round in our palms
and toss it to the current.
We empty our pockets
into water and air
setting the old year loose
honey still tasting in our mouths.
Crab Orchard Review ◆ 181